Head of ICBC quits amid car sale scandal

The CEO of the Insurance Corporation of British Columbia has resigned amid a scandal involving close to 100 cars repaired at the Crown corporation's Burnaby facility that were sold without proper disclosure of their accident history.

ICBC Chair Richard Turner announced Friday that Paul Taylor has chosen to leave voluntarily effective May 2, and will therefore not receive severance pay.

Taylor told reporters Fridaynight that he already has a new joblined up but didn't say where it is, only that it will keep him in B.C.

"My decision to take this job is unrelated to anything at ICBC," Taylor said.

"It's an opportunity that came to me. In terms of the recent issues [at ICBC], we're working hard to address them."

Turner said Taylor has chosen to leave the corporation of his own volition to pursue a new opportunity.

"Mr. Taylor's move to the private sector was his decision and the [ICBC] board is deeply disappointed that he is leaving," he said in a written statement.

Turner also said the board has full confidence in ICBC's senior management team, which will run the corporation while it searches for a new CEO.

Government disappointed

B.C. Solicitor General John van Dongen said Friday the government is disappointed with Taylor's decision to leave.

"I and the government continue to believe that Paul Taylor is an individual of the highest integrity," he said in Vancouver.

"He has behind him many years of competent public service and we wish him well in his new position in the private sector."

ICBC closed the Burnaby facility in February,when it learned that 98 repaired cars and trucks were sold without full disclosure of their accident history.

At least 22 of the 98 wrecked vehicles repaired at the facility were bought by ICBC managers at rigged auctions, according to an internal investigation released this month.

Opposition Leader Carole James said the New Democratic Party will continue to press the government on problems at ICBC.

"If the government thinks this is going to make the issue go away, they're wrong," she said of Taylor's resignation.

"It just seems like a huge coincidence that Paul Taylor says he has to be leaving on a late Friday afternoon."